Method of treating ores.



Pairr FFI-CE.

CHARLES E. BAKER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

METHOD or TREATING. ORES.

No Drawing.

10 all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, Cu'xmins E. BAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chi ago, in the county of Cool: and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Methods of Treating ()res, of which the following,- is a specitication.

This invention relates to a method of treating mixed ores for converting the metallic values thereof into chlorids. the invention such ores .ari subjected to the action of a plurality of reagentsincluding gaseous hydrochloric acid or equivalent halogen-acid gas, and free chlorin.

It is found in'practice that ores ormet-allurgical products wherein the metallic values exist in combination both \\"ith;sul fur and oxygen, as for example partiallfy or in completely roasted sultids, mattcs. nntiye ores, or mixtures of these, are not readily chloridized by treatment either with gaseous hydrochloric acid or gaseous chlorin separately applied. 1 have found, however, that a mixture of these reagents, properly pro-- portioned, is highly eti'ective for the treat.- ment of such mixed ores.

\Vhile my invention is not restricted to any particular mixture containing the halo geiracid gas and chlori'n, it is deemed preferable that the halogen-acid should be supplied in sutiicient quantity to chloridize the oxid or oxidized constituents of the ore, including any carbonate which may be presout, and the chlorin in proportion to chloridize the sulfid constituents. Preferably also, oxygen or air'is introduced to oxidize the sulfur and other mctalloids, whereby loss of chlorin by combination therewith is avoided. The method is applicable broadly to the treatment of appropriate ores containing zinc, copper and other metals. applied for example to the treatment of ores of a divalent metal such as nine, a typical reaction in accordance with my invention may be expressed as follows;

U I In vgeneral, the highertho proportion ot Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 19,

According to 1910. serial No. 562,331.

' oxid or oxidized constituents of the ore the higher should be the proportion of halogenacid gas with respect to the free chlorin in the mixture. As regards the conditions of operationit is merely nccessarythat the gaseous reagent be applied to the properly crushed ore in a revolving drum or other suitable vessel which may be maintained at the proper reacting temperature. Moderate temperatures only are required, and excessive heating which mightresult in the formation of sulfates should be carefully avoided.

j'lhe source or mode of preparation of the mixed gases is not material. I prefer however to apply the chlorin accompanied by or in the presence'of sufficient moisture to determine the production of an-adequate pro- ;t'or example by the reaction:

products obtained by reacting upon sulfur chlorid with water, supplying therewith the required excess of tree chlorin.

The process as described above proceeds regularly and results in an etlicient chlorination of ores of the character described. At the moderate temperatures employed, such agglomeration or balling of the ore as results when heat is applied to drive ottsulfur chlorid in drychlorination is avoided.

I claim i l. The method of treating mixed sulfid and oxid ores, which consists in reacting thereon with agascous mixture containing hydrochloric acid and free chlorin.

2. The method of treating mixed sulfid and oxid ores,,which consists in reacting thereon with a. gaseous mixture containing constituents of the ore,

'4, The method of treating mixed sultid Patented Oct. 11, 191( portion of hydrochloric acid, as expressed chlorin in proportion to chloridize the sulfid and oxid ores, which consists in reacting ()1: I may subject the orcs to the gaseoushydrochloric acid, free chlorin and oxygen,

j thereon with a gaseousmixture containing portion of the chlorin isconyerted into hyhydrochlorlc 201d, free chlorln and oxygen, (lrochlonc acid.

,. 1.0 the chlorin in proportion to chloridize the In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature suifid constituents of the ore. in presence of two witnesses.

5; The method of treating mixed sulfid CHARLES E. BAKER. and oxid ates; which consists in reacting Witnesses: thereon with an excess of chlorin in presence E. O. SAULE, of moisture, under such conditions that a i HENRY WHITE. 

